Oslo, Norway – 5 December 2025 – Havila Voyages has marked a significant milestone in sustainable shipping with its vessel Havila Polaris completing a historic climate-neutral voyage along Norway’s iconic coastal route. The 12-day round trip from Hammerfest to Bergen and back was powered by liquefied biogas and battery energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90 percent compared with conventional marine fuels.
The voyage was designed to showcase the potential of cleaner fuels and emissions-cutting technologies on one of the world’s most scenic maritime corridors. Onboard were international media representatives, industry experts and coastal residents, highlighting both the technical achievement and the broad interest in accelerating the decarbonisation of maritime travel.
“We have a responsibility to the people and communities along our unique coastline,” said Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages. “And we know that biogas is already an effective solution for sailing the coastal route with very low emissions without having to make technical changes to our ships.”
Pioneering Sustainable Maritime Travel
The vessel took on a total of 350 cubic metres of liquefied biogas before departure — first 200 cubic metres supplied by Barents Naturgass at Polarbase in Hammerfest and the remaining 150 cubic metres delivered in Bergen — fueling the ship in combination with its battery systems. This blend enabled the vessel to complete the entire coastal itinerary with drastically reduced emissions, illustrating that climate-neutral cruising is achievable with today’s technology.
Experts on board discussed the wider implications of the voyage for Norway’s coastal shipping sector, including the role that biogas could play in broader decarbonisation efforts. Stakeholders from environmental organisations, energy suppliers and local government representatives gathered to underscore the potential for sustainable fuels to support greener operations without compromising performance.
Industry and Environmental Support
Industry voices praised the initiative. Elise Caspersen, Maritime Affairs Specialist at the Zero Environmental Foundation, commented positively on Havila Voyages’ demonstration that low-emission coastal travel is feasible. At the same time, discussions highlighted the need for predictable political frameworks and expanded infrastructure to support broader adoption of biogas and other clean fuels.
Representatives from Molgas Energy, one of the biogas suppliers for the voyage, emphasised that biogas can deliver substantial emissions reductions at sea and spur collaboration between operators and fuel producers to scale supply capacity. “A company like Havila Voyages, with such clear ambitions and plans, will motivate us to find suppliers and partners who can boost biogas production in Norway,” said Gunnar Helmen, Director of Maritime at Molgas Energy.
Towards Zero-Emission Coastal Operations
The company has set out ambitious goals for its fleet. Havila Voyages plans to operate all four of its coastal vessels climate-neutrally by the end of 2028, building on this landmark voyage. CEO Bent Martini noted that the initiative is not a one-off experiment: “If you want to lead the way, you always have to expect both support and headwinds… That’s why we are sticking to our goal of operating the coastal route climate-neutral with all four ships from the end of 2028.
Experts at the event also stressed the need for wider policy support to make climate-neutral operations the norm across Norway’s vital coastal network. With 34 regular port calls, the route has become a focus for sustainable shipping discussions, and the success of Havila Polaris’ biogas voyage may help shape future regulations and industry expectations.
Source: This article is based on the official press release “Havila Polaris on Historic Voyage Powered by Biogas” (5 December 2025) on the Havila Voyages press site.
